“That’s good. Your at is a little off, but it’s totally uandable.” Yu-mi chortled, reing ba her seat. “And you are ing along as well, Eri. Is this really the bes of Chirurgery?”

  “One of them, though as we expined, Eri’s worked harder than just that and had more advantages.” I said in passable Korean, only a couple of words requirio use English, as I hadn’t learhem yet on the flight. “But increased memory and learning speed definitely makes a difference when you push it to the maximum.”

  Eri agreed. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and cardigan bo, looking rexed and satisfied. Yu-mi, in a casual pantsuit, sighed, a touviously. “I’m jealous.” Yu-mi protested. “sidering how much we all struggle to learn English, this seems so unfair.”

  “It wasn’t hard for me to learn.” Eri pointed out slyly. “After all, I grew up with Akio, and siher-in-w Emily is British, we naturally learned both nguages from an early age. It made csses at school very easy.”

  “I’ll bet.” Yu-mi ughed. “I suppose it makes my choice all the more sensible though.” She stifled a yawn. “It was fun, wasn’t it? The club? And I guess what came after, though that wasn’t so fun for me… what a mess.”

  “Yeah, maybe I o hire my own ing crew to go around after me…” I managed a slightly off-colour joke that made Eri flush. “We’ll be nding soon. So our rexation is over.” I looked down to where my phone was, irritated. First thing in the m I had received a message from Haru, and then ones from Shiro and Shaeu. Christina Bakker had appeared uedly, demanding to see me, and she had brought the kidnapped citizens with her, apparently. What a mess.

  “At least she’s uhe watchful eye of the others.” Eri iserated. “Is she as bad as you’ve said?”

  “Probably worse. Imagine Ixitt’s excessive curiosity, with a healthy dose of sociopathy and willio do uhical, even deadly research. In addition, she’s got deep es with the Ameris who are dealing with Chosen matters.” I could feel a headache ing on. “Such a nuisance. But…”

  “At least she’s not a Chosen.” Eri finished, and I nodded.

  “No kidding. That would be a nightmare. Though I’d give her fifty-fifty ces of dying or being as strong as me. Great risks and great rewards go hand in hand.”

  “The press ference should be starting shortly.” Yu-mi said in Korean, and I urning to the TV on the private pne we were on, I pressed the power button and ged the el to KBS. Soon we were watg a live broadcast of the President of Korea, as well as several heads of important Ministries, the South Korean Army and more.

  “It is an unavoidable fact…” Subtitles were turned on to trao English, but we also followed along with our retly learned Korean as best we could. “…that strange powers have awakened in people all over the world.” The President was saying, his expression grim. “We have seen the results worldwide, in Japan, Britain, and in other tries as well, stories are starting to surface, many small tragedies. Korea is no exception. There have been… rumours…” he tinued, his toern. “…of troubles affeg a school. Sadly, it was true. These powers e to all, and many are not suited for or responsible enough to wield such dreadful gifts. Is there an answer?”

  The leader of the Army spoke , and I noticed the simirities to the press ferehat the Queen of Britain had delivered. ce or not?

  “Some have said these people are an ever-present threat to Korea and our way of life.” The speaker, a stern, authoritarian man of middle age, said coldly. “And such fires will only have been fuelled by the as at the aforementioned useon Academy. We have heard voices saying that these people should be quarantined, or worse, wiped out. But matters are hardly so simple.”

  “I should say not.” Yu-mi smiled bitterly. “Wiping you out, Akio? I don’t see it happening without appalling casualties.”

  “It probably wouldn’t be possible now, through purely Material means.” I shook my head, still watg. “You’d o take me out in the Boundary as well.”

  “So you’re immortal then?” Yu-mi said, surprised, and Eri nodded proudly, though that wasn’t quite right.

  “… even if we could wipe out these people with unnatural powers, should we? We all know the words of the Western world, of Britain, and the Pope of the Catholic Church. And indeed, our own people have said that the world will ge, with our sent or without it.” The man tinued, his words powerful and heavy.

  “No, even if my injuries doirely reflect ay subtle bodies, damage will iably build up. Nothing is immortal, not even the Gods, I expect. But hard to kill? I suspect I’d give a cockroach a run for its money.”

  As Eri and Yu-mi snickered at that unpleasant image, the President eaking again. “Perhaps our only defence against the ging world is our own people. There are those tries out there which have long eyed us threateningly, which have embraced or scripted their own citizens of power. And we have seen what they do, sadly. Fire only be fought by fire. The situation at useon was resolved. Too te, and with too many losses, but…”

  Suddenly the press fere away, and I frowned. “That’s footage of useon…”

  The first images were taken from high above, perhaps a low orbit spy satellite, and showed the mind-trolled Korean military bei with. This isn’t going to be good. A voiceover in Korean was saying that even the military were helpless against some Chosen. Worse, the images ged again, to a live feed-style rec of my sis and her Golden Sisters, as well as Haru and Ginneka, against the bastard with super speed who ambushed them.

  “Isn’t that bad?” Eri said urgently. “Didn’t Aiko’s powers e from…” She g Yu-mi worriedly, and the irl shrugged.

  “If you ’t say, don’t. But I’m in your camp now, Eri. I won’t betray. I ’t.”

  “It’s secret.” Eri nodded. “You don’t know the person who used to have the Golden Warriors, but… Akio had no choice, he couldn’t save him, so he took it, and now Aiko use it to help Akio, help us. But…” The se ged, to show some other footage, of haggard, wounded children and young adults being taken from the school.

  “…but people won’t uand that, right?” Yu-mi finished, narrowing her eyes. “Is it going to be a problem?”

  “It’s uhat Uchida-san or some of Susanoo won’t see this. So yes, it’s not going to be good.” Damhis wasn’t part of the agreement. I ched my fist, pissed off, and Eri grabbed my other arm to try and e. It was going to e out sooner or ter, Aiko’s being more important on the field of battle. Her Golden Sisters are excellent, expendable tanks, which definitely reduce our risk during fights… but this is the worst way for it to happen.

  “…the ses are harrowing, and we have kept you from the worst.” The President said sadly. “But then, not all is evil.” The footage cut to ses of parents rejoig, meeting their healed children again. “There is good and bad. And those who have developed these powers are your friends, neighbours, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers, coworkers and acquaintances. We will not be a party to genocide. However…” he took a deep breath. “…as a gover, we owe it to the people to make our try both safe and strong, as we always have. Hence we passed the ws requiriification as an official Hunter. Rumours and gossip have been spreading about what that entails, but first…”

  “We would like to thank our fn colborators, fing the useon io a close.” Another man said. “As head of the Ministry of the Interior, Safety and Hunters, we reached out to a known, skilled agent. While our retionships with Japa cordial…” The image switched again, and I wondered just how they had some of the footage of me. Perhaps they retrieved it from the cameras at the Academy?

  “That’s Soo-Ah’s uncle.” Yu-mi frowned, angry. “I’ll give her a piey mind. This isn’t the pce for this, right?”

  I nodded. “While we do want reition of our support, to shore up retions, showing our abilities in a is quite the breach of reement.” I looked at Eri, who sighed.

  “You’re not discrete yourself, Akio. And now others are leaking too? This isn’t good… Hinata is going to be furious.”

  I nodded. I’m pretty pissed myself. Oh well, the cat is out of the bag, now we have to deal with it. The Minister tinued. “…so it is now illegal to utilise any ability beyond human limits, unless one is an officially liced Hunter, under our Ministry.” Yeah, they’ve adopted a simir pattern to our Ministry for Spiritual Matters. “If people wish to keep themselves to themselves, they , but they must refrain from using such powers. This goes for foo. Any visitor to Korea must refrain from using abilities, or they will be breaking the w. Oh… obviously, officially saned diplomats such as Oshiro-nim from Japan and his party carry the same rights as Hunters. But unsaned use of powers to cause harm or loss to others will be punished with penalties three times in excess of simir unaugmented crimes…”

  The ference droned on, and more footage of us was dispyed. Fortunately most of it was of me, Shiro and the Korean Hunters, only a little of it low-resolution images of my sis and her party. Even so, the damage was done. As the ferended, my ph, and as expected, it was Hinata.

  “Are you watg the news?” Hinata fumed, without any preamble.

  “Yes, we’re seeing it now.” I replied, and she tinued angrily.

  “The agreement was they would only show your images, showing you went to help, and praise our iional cooperation! Showing your abilities in a was strictly off limits. Especially Aiko’s! This is going to be really big trouble. After all, everyo cve saw Uchida-san use his Golden Warriors, I remember you saying?”

  Eri spoke up as Yu-mi listened ily. “That’s right. I was there. All the representatives did see. This is bad.”

  “Fortuhe images aren’t crystal clear. It might buy us some deniability, but… those who know will know.” Hinata finished her thoughts, befrowling. “Don’t worry, it’s st sotion, but I’ll certainly be lodging a protest with the Korean ruling party. Motoko’s grandfather will be doing the same. I’ll get pensation and cessions, but I’d rather not have this trouble.” She sighed bitterly. “Looks like I’ll have to push my flight back to deal with this. Sorry Akio.”

  “No, I’m the one who is sorry.” I apologised from the heart. “You’re missing a lot of school due to taking care of my is, and it must be hard work. Oh, and make sure you do e back today. I want to gather all of you for a meeting, to discuss…”

  “The spoils, right? I uand. I donbt there’ll be any that work for me, but I wouldn’t miss the ce to support the others. Although… the members of Adamant be ioo? It’ll be an opportunity to show off, and increase their loyalty. Besides, maybe some of them might be suitable.”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” I agreed. Favours aren’t easy to pce. While I’d prefer them to go to my girls, or a friend or member of our family, so long as it is in the hands of someone loyal who supports us, it’s better than lying fallow and just draining my reserves of adherence…

  “No, it’s not, in principle.” Eri agreed, speaking into my phone. “But just watch yourself, Hinata. Adamant isirely a terrible idea, but… we o ma together, and make sure Akio doesn’t have any more surprises.”

  “I promise.” Hinata giggled, her irritation diminishing for a moment. “I won’t make that mistake again. But… Eri, is everything all sorted out now? Have you and Akio finally uood each other?”

  “People are plicated. I dare say we’ll misuand each ain iure, but… we know we love each other, aher of us are dissatisfied with our choices. promise isn’t sacrifice, and dreams fade, to be repced by better, brighter dreams, and that’s a cause for joy, not sorrow.”

  “That’s great. I’m gd!” Hinata was enthusiastic. “Holy, we all worried. But we support each other to get through anything. Oh, Yu-mi, good job on helping out.”

  Yu-mi flushed, a little embarrassed. “I didn’t do anything to speak of. Just set the se, and dropped a few words here and there.”

  “Even so, results t in Adamant. You’ve proven yourself useful” Hinata paused. “So, how did you find it? Going from being ordered by your father to marry Akio, to ending up being his subordinate and chaperone in just a handful of days?”

  “Holy? Pretty fun.” Yu-mi giggled softly, though her face was red. “It was so different, yet still the same. Seeing all my friends and acquaintances desperate to i with Akio and Eri here was amazing. Though some things were embarrassing…”

  “Oho. Feeli at turning Akio down? Don’t feel too bad. I wavered as well, as did Motoko and Natsumi. But in the end, a leap of faith is all it takes. So, out of curiosity…” Hinata teased. “What was embarrassing?”

  “Nothing major. She was just drunk and fshed me a little. Just underwear.”

  “To a girl that’s a big thing.” Eri whacked my shoulder gently. “You’d never have been so casual about it before. We have ged.”

  “True.” I remember when seeing a bra through Karen-’s shirt on a hot day used to make me flustered. I was such a fool back then. You’d have thought I was used to girls, what with Eri and my sis growing up, but… my mi wasn’t right. It’s amazing how much I have ged in a few months. “But don’t worry, I blotted it out my mind with Eri ter.” I grinned, and Eri spped me again, as Yu-mi pouted, face flushed.

  “I don’t regret. I’m not a hasty girl. But I do wonder what would have happened if I had said I was willing, rather than throwing a tantrum and pining.”

  “I hardly thiing that was pining.” I pointed out, and Yu-mi shrugged.

  “Maybe not, but I still feel ashamed. You never asked for this, and I took it out on you. Instead, you were a gentleman, saved my cousin, and have treated me very well si’d be strange if I didn’t think well of you. But again… I’m not a hasty girl, okay?”

  “Nor am I a hasty guy. Not now.” As Eri coughed in disbelief, and Hinata ughed oher end of the phone, I repeated it. “I’m not! I’ve made my peaow. But I do love you all, and want to spend time with you all, and make you all the happiest girls oh. No, in the multiverse. So I ’t just go adding more at random. But I also won’t reject the potential of others just because they were pushed towards me. After all… I love you, Hinata. Despite how we started.”

  There was an embarrassed pause. “I love you too.” She whispered finally. “You know I do. Which is why I won’t let the Korea away with putting our pns at risk!”

  “Hinata, what he’s trying to say is… and he has my full support as his first wife, you have people in mind for him. Which is fine. In principle. I’ve already resigned myself to some. But eae we add takes from us. It’s not a sacrifice as we all are willing to shoulder that, and holy, we’ve e so far already that I don’t believe Akio ’t e up with more solutions to the dilemma of time. I mean, there’s his dual bodies, the fact that the Boundary has time dition… it’s hardly ideal, but… well, you know what I mean!”

  “Yes, I believe in Akio too. We all do.” Hinata said softly. “And we’ll listen to you.”

  “Good.” Eri said, satisfied. “So here’s the thing, who have you lined up for Akio?”

  There was silence, and Hinata was embarrassed. “It’s hard to say in front of him… I… tell you privately ter?”

  “Sure. You should. But if it’s just fain politically, or for other bes, then I’m going to go against you.” Eri warned. “They should love Akio, and he should at least like them back. And they o fit in. Even then, we ’t pressure Akio.”

  “Listening to two of your women plot to get you more is sdalous.” Yu-mi chuckled. “But… I get it. It’s like the Naemyeongbu.” She said a Korean term we hadn’t learned. “Basically, back when Korea was in the Josean period, they were the es and sorts of the King. With power and authority, e desires, right? And…” she paused, weighing up her thoughts. “I think that the world is going to get very feudal again. It shouldn’t have been possible, teology ah distribution made css differences shrink worldwide… but what you do… it’s the opposite. Eventually cream rises to the top.”

  “You’re smart, Yu-mi. I definitely like you!” Hinata decred. “We think the same way. Japan has its nobility, as you know. Not in traditional ways, but by holding financial, political and military power, and w together. But even we are uo stop the flow of the times. Fortunately we don’t o. Akio is the King we chose, even if not all of the nobility has realised it yet. The shrines are his, although… the damn Koreans have put that in dahe nobility… Fujiwara-sama is in his er. With Miyu as one of his treasured granddaughters, he’s no way to refuse. I trol Takatsukasa house, and… Kira-sama is no fool. Mayumi… well, she’s a hassle at times, but I have her on the hook now. Then with Princess Mikasa a good friend of Akio’s and Tsukiko’s… yeah. He’ll be our King iime!”

  “With Adamant, his loyal army of Naemyeongbu, correct?” Yu-mi pointed out, and Hinata snorted.

  “Only the ones Akio chooses. I do agree with Eri, much as she may not believe me. I just think that Akio needs loyal followers, and if something more develops, I wouldn’t be sad. After all, we all have our tasks, don’t we Eri? We wouldn’t want Akio to be lonely…”

  “My task has bee. After all, even the universe itself has aowledged my love for Akio is beyond ordinary.” Eri said proudly. “But look, we’ll talk about this after the meeting ter.”

  “Yeah, I do have to go.” Hinata agreed. “I’m going to rake those idiots over the coals! I’ll see you tonight. Bye Eri, Yu-mi. Bye Akio, love you!”

  As she hung up, we exged looks. “She has it tough too.” Yu-mi said sympathetically. “Uh… I know you want my dad to keep our e with you hush-hush, but if there’s anything we do…”

  “I appreciate it. But for now… we’ll have to see what Hinata and the Japanese gover say. Besides… we have more pressing worries.” Christina Bakker. Just what I don’t need right now…

  “So… Eri.” Yu-mi said, ging the subject. “Do you think you could ever…” she trailed off, but Eri uood.

  “I hardly hate you. I’m grateful you tried to help us get through our issues. And I like that you’re a steady girl who isn’t impulsive. I think we be friends.”

  “I’d like that.” Yu-mi agreed happily. “I could use the support as well. After all, I’ll be helping run your Korean branch, right? And those Hunters seem hard to work with…” As Eri and Yu-mi chatted, the TV was now focussed on dry entary from the news anchors. Fortuhey had little uanding of what was dispyed, but it was still troubling. Yeah, in a way it’s definitely good more of the world is starting t in ws tute Chosen, and raise awareness, but… it causes problems too…

  ********

  “Wele back.” As I ehe office at Shirohebizumi shrine, Karen- greeted me with a smile. The office was bustling with activity, and on seeing us, Shugo-kun came rushing over.

  “Hey Akio-kun, Eri-… uh…”

  “Yu-mi.” she said in English, and Shugo-kun frowned.

  “My English is okay, but if I make mistakes, five me, okay?”

  “No problem!” Yu-mi agreed cheerfully.

  “So yeah, we saw the news. That was scary stuff. You okay, man? I know Shiro said you were fine, but…” He trailed off as the aforementioned Shiro walked in, followed by Shaeu.

  “Hey, wele back. Did you have fun?” Shiro wi us. Eri reddened, but nodded.

  “I definitely did. Seoul was very iing. We brought gifts. But they wait.”

  “Ihey -.” Shaeu agreed, before striding up to Eri and patting her shoulder gently. “But I am pleased. Your eyes… Eri, it seems-seems you have reached a resolution. I like the look in them.”

  “I have.” Eri agreed. “Though you might regret it a little. I’m not going to oppose you at every turn, Shaeu, but I am going to make sure you keep your scheming to a certain level of moderation.”

  “That is fine.” Shaeu snickered. “I do not-not mind if it is you, Eri. Anyway, I have been waiting. Shiro here tells me you have-have a present for me?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I do. Though it might fail, so don’t get your hopes up. But first…”

  Shugo-kun nodded, Karen- handing him some files. “We’ve got the ao the questions you texted Yasaka-san, plus the follow-up research. We couldn’t a anything until you got back. Oh… by the reliminary tests of the Oracle Engine you asked us to build went well. Though there’s still a lot of work before we think about sg it up to the stage.”

  As he boasted, I took the dots. “Dorte Andreassen, age twenty-five, a boratory tei at the Nian Research tre – NORCE. Uy graduate, in Marine Biology. No particur unusual behaviour reported, other than… hey, how did you get all these files?” I asked. There were siess records, which showed her absenteeism from work had skyrocketed since July. There was also some photographs. She was a rather pretty woman, though that was offset by her icy blue eyes, which seemed stern and unapproachable.

  “It ublic record. Mostly.” Shugo-kun admitted. “But she’s the one you were looking for, it seems. But we haven’t approached her. It won’t be easy. It’s not like you just message her on Facebook and say ‘hey there, are you a Chosen of Tyr?’ is it?”

  “True.” I agreed, while Shaeu and Shiro ughed. Looking at the file, it was another woman, from Greece, supposedly someoher famous. That gives me an idea. ut those siblings to use on this one.

  Lastly, there was a final set of files, which was inplete. “I see. Several locations in America, one in Botswana, and also Australia, as well as another person…” Trag all these down, even with these details is going to be difficult. “How is Yasaka-san? I should probably go Heal him, but sadly we have a more pressing matter first.”

  “If you’re doing it just so you ask him follow-up questions, he’ll be mad. But yeah, he’s stable but hardly well right now.” Shiro snorted.

  “Sadly, I think we o. Though there’s no way I spare the time, not with our ued visitor. Where is she by the way?”

  “Yeah, no kidding. She’s being held at the Ministry right now, under guard. So… the news…” Shiro said, and I nodded.

  “We’re dealing with it. But… have we heard anything from any of the shrines and temples yet?”

  “Nothi, but it’s only been a couple of hours sihe report from Korea, and the JapaV stations uhe trol of the nobility didn’t broadcast the footage that showed use of your abilities. They omitted the parts with your sister entirely.” Karen- said. “Though several more minor TV stations did air ued and live footage. And the i ’t be restrained.” I took another dossier, gng at it. “So there’s probably a little time.”

  “Great. In that case… you do me a favour a everyone from Adamant know that we’ll be having an importaing this evening. That goes for all of you as well.” I said to Shiro and Shaeu, who both nodded. “By the way…” I turned my head, looking outside, where a new series of stru was plete. “Things have really moved on in just a few days.”

  “Yeah, Kana’s been busting her ass. Grulgor too.” Shiro agreed. “Makes me happy knowing I’m not the only one. Since I had to rebuff Asha’s Tree the moment I got back. We lost out on some ether, but overall it’s not going to set us back much.”

  “In fact, stru is actually ahead of schedule.” Karen- pointed out. “The eg underground station has been installed here, and the tunnel has been dug through to the factory site, though installing lights, the rails and more will take time. The factory is ing alooo. Though the tuo your e is going to take a lot longer, being as it’s getting on for forty kilometres.”

  “I see.” Everything seems to be in hand. In that case… “Shiro, Shaeu… meet me in the Boundary.” I separated my Astral body for the first time sihe battle at useon Academy. “We’ll move to your mansion by the Spring and I’ll try a you yift, Shaeu.” That ill have some extra time.

  As the Fae nodded happily, I turo Eri and Yu-mi. “Eri, you orient Yu-mi to my Territory and ruhrough how things work?”

  At her nod, I dealt with a few more minor matters, before ending up in a car, driven by Trey, heading for the Ministry, while in the Boundary, I ehe Ring Gate, Shaeu and Shiro (and more importantly, Tan) in tow. I feel a bit bad attending to all these problems before I’ve even had ce to greet my family and the girls. But I’ll see the girls ter in the Boundary, where we are going to have to discuss who get the Favours I’ve brought back, if anyone , and I use my Material body once I’ve met with Christina Bakker and discovered what she wants… There was so much to do, and so little time as always…

  ShipTeaser